Double has Arnold riding high in carnival

HEAVYWEIGHT jockey Steven Arnold book-ended the final day at Flemington with a winner in the first race, Direct Charge, for Robbie Laing, and in the last, when he got the Darley galloper Launay up, giving him the title of top jockey - at least for winners ridden - at this year's Cup carnival.

Mick Kent's Good Value will be set for the group 2 Villiers Stakes in Sydney, while Mick Price's Eximious could run in next Saturday's group 2 Sandown Guineas. The progressive Sertorius is due to chase his sixth win in a row in the listed Ballarat Cup in a fortnight.

Luke Nolen's suspension became Michael Walker's advantage. The former New Zealand star climbed aboard Good Value in the Momentum Energy Trophy and booted him home at $14, just gunning down Galah ($3.20) by a short half-head. ''He just had problems with his knees, so he would loom and not finish in some of his earlier races, but he hit the line well today, '' Kent said.

Advertisement

''He's not a bad horse. He should have won a Winter Championship. I really rated him, he was just floating away and leaning in his races. We found a problem with his knee and cleaned him up.''

You will now receive updates fromSport Newsletter

Sport Newsletter

Few horses win five in a row, but Sertorius has. The $3.30 favourite brought up the quintet when he led all the way in the 2000-metre Antler Luggage Handicap under Ryan Maloney.

Sertorius will now back up in a fortnight in the Ballarat Cup over 2200 metres.

''Ryan rides most of our horses in the country. He knows how we want all the horses ridden. I have complete confidence in what he's going to do whenever I leg him on,'' said trainer Jamie Edwards.

Eximious, the winner of the listed Hilton Hotel Stakes, is likely to be in action in seven days in the Sandown Guineas following his gutsy win over Limes ($14). Glen Boss told connections the gelding would be well suited by the step up to 1400 metres after riding him last start, and so it proved as the $26 chance held on to take the prize, Boss saying afterwards that he was ''never going to let that other horse pass him in the straight''.

■Black Caviar could attempt to win a race named in her honour if she gets back in time for the Lightning Stakes at Flemington in February.

The VRC has announced the Lightning will be known as the Black Caviar Lightning from next year. The unbeaten superstar has won the past two editions of the 1000-metre dash and it would seem a likely starting point for a farewell tour.

''All the owners are excited by this decision of the VRC,'' managing owner Neil Werrett said.

''While no decision had been made about her specific return to racing in 2013, it would be very special if she could run in such a prestigious group 1 race as the Lightning for a third time.''

Outgoing VRC chief executive Dale Monteith said it was an easy decision to honour Australia's great sprinter.

''Seven of Black Caviar's 22 victories have been at Flemington, including five group 1s, so it is appropriate she will be immortalised with a race in her honour at headquarters,'' he said.

''Black Caviar has won the Lightning twice already, and we would dearly love for her to contest the inaugural Black Caviar Lightning in February 2013 in what could be her last campaign.

''Trainer Peter Moody and Black Caviar courageously tackled this year's Lightning Stakes, dropping back from 1400 metres to 1000 in seven days, beating top sprinters Hay List and Buffering. Her win defied history and she is a very special horse.''